Here is a drama with touches of comedy that many young adults might identify with, find entertaining as well as challenging. But, here is also a drama with touches of comedy that older audiences might identify with, memories, disappointments, hopes. And, while the audience will be smiling quite often, by the end, there will also be tears.
But, who is Bob Trevino? In fact, during the film, there will be two. The first is a rather embittered widower, living in aged care, continually trying to strike up relationships and ensure companionship and comfort for his future. Mention of the second Bob Trevino later. The first one has a daughter, Lily, an impressive performance by Barbie Ferreira, something of an awkward, young woman looking after a chair confined client, great difficulty in relating to her father, his emotional verbal attacks on her, making demands of her, her exasperation with him. Of course, quite some basis for identifying with her.
But she relies on social media, living with her phone, texting, reaching out for somebody to respond, some connections, some followers. More basis for identifying with her. One night, feeling frustrated, she searches for anybody else with the name, Bob Trevino. She finds one. And he replies. Hence the title and the clicking of “Like” when we receive a pleasing text.
The screenplay has introduced us to him before the contact with. He is a builder, married, a sad story about the death of their child at 21 months. He is a loner, preferring to stay at home, not many friends. And his wife spends her time with her hobby, creating photo book mementos, even entering national competitions and winning.
So, this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship. The two first meet when there is a toilet crisis for the chair confined woman, and Lily asks Bob to come to fix it. And so, the beginnings of conversations, revelations about the past, mutual support, Lily clearly finding her new friend, Bob Trevino, as a surrogate father figure. And he is played with quite some tenderness and sensitivity by John Leguizamo.
Events do not quite turn out as we might have anticipated. There is a further falling out with her father who hands Lily a cost list of all the expenses he has incurred in bringing her up. Then he asks her for money to help him with the new search for a companion. Confident after meeting her friend, she stands up to her father.
Then further events certainly do not quite turn out as we might have anticipated, leading to some anxiety, some sorrow, and some very moving scenes with Bob’s wife.
One of the phrases to describe this kind of film is that it is a “slow-burner”. It begins rather quietly, and, when the audience surrenders to it, it touches the emotions, offers us many insights into human nature, something of a small film for all seasons.
(In fact, it is based on the experiences of the writer-director’s own search for her father.)
This film is now showing at selected cinemas including Palace Balwyn and the Lido Hawthorn
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